Each Year, Senior-Level Television Students Are Chosen To Carry On The Tradition Of Making This Complex Telethon A Reality

The 14th Annual Friends of Max Kolb Telethon

14

Years Running

52785

Pledged

2015 Production Team

Rose Sena

Producer

Rose Sena is a senior working towards her Bachelor of Science Degree in Video/ Television & Film. Currently, she is co-producer of Thursday Nite Live, Hofstra's hour long sketch comedy show, and a Programming Intern at VH1 Program Planning. When she is not producing, Rose is a Technical/ Teaching Assistant for various television courses in the LHSOC and spends any free time she has watching TV and crafting. Rose is a member of Lambda Pi Eta, and was an inaugural member of the Hofstra In LA program.After she graduates, she wants to become a television producer for live award shows, late night talk shows, or children's programming. Rose is very happy to be a part of a long running Hofstra Television tradition that not only entertains, but gives something back to the film community at Hofstra. Rose hopes to create an entertaining and inspiring telethon this year, and is especially glad to be working with the hard-working classmates who have been an integral part of her career in Dempster Hall.

Chris Haberli

Director

Chris Haberli is a senior Television student at Hofstra University. In his tenure at Hofstra, he has become an integral part of many HEAT Network programs, acting as director for ‘Thursday Nite Live,’ ‘Hofstra Today,’ and ‘SportsBeat.’ While most of his work resides within the walls of a studio, Chris has produced and edited pieces for The 2013 CBGB Music Festival, and German news network, Deutsche Welle. At the latter, he played American rock-n-roll icon Elvis Presley for German television. Partly because he was the only American in the office, and partly because he had really good hair. Chris is looking forward to the production of The Max Kolb Telethon as a medium to both develop his craft, and aid in the alleviation of college expenses to supremely talented individuals.

Peter R. Gershon

Faculty Advisor

In a teaching career spanning 40 years, Dr. Peter Gershon has won three distinguished teaching awards at the University level. He has directed and produced two documentaries for public television, but his effect on the television industry is much greater, with former students in every facet of television and advertising from NY to LA. This January, he accompanied twelve of the best students in the LHSOC for the inaugural of the Hofstra in LA Program. He was the LHSOC’s 2004 Distinguished Teacher of the Year and has been involved with The Friends of Max Kolb Telethon since its inception in 2001. His hope for this year’s telethon is the same as it is every year: that it continues to provide a lifeline for those who might otherwise be forced to choose between their love of film-making, and paying the bills.

Lindsay Sher

Production Manager

Lindsay Sher is currently a senior working towards a Bachelor of Science in Video/Television & Business. Throughout her last (almost) four years at Hofstra, she has developed a passion for producing in the television industry. Within Hofstra, she is a producer of SportsBeat, a 30-minute sports newscast, in addition to crewing Hofstra Today and Thursday Nite Live. She is so excited to be working with some of the most talented peers in the business to produce the 14th annual Max Kolb Telethon. Currently she is interning at Closing Bell on CNBC. Post-graduation, she hopes to be producing for a well-respected news program and collaborating with fellow classmates. For now, there is no better way she could have imagined finishing off her senior year at Hofstra.

Lauren Campbell

Associate Producer

Lauren Campbell will be graduating this May with a Bachelor of Science degree in Video/Television. At Hofstra, she is a member of Lambda Pi Eta and WRHU, where she served as Assistant News Director. She has interned for WestwoodOne, Entertainment Tonight, WABC-TV, The Late Show with David Letterman and is currently at The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Upon graduation Lauren aspires to pursue a career in the late night talk show circuit. Working on Kolb is a true honor and Lauren couldn’t imagine being part of a more dedicated team for her last production at Hofstra. She hopes to help bring Rose’s full creative vision to life for this production and make it the most successful Telethon yet.

Jenna Scardino

Associate Producer

Jenna Scardino is a senior Television/Video student at Hofstra University. During her time at Hofstra she has immersed herself in the HEAT Network crewing Thursday Night Live, Sports Beat, Hofstra Today, and Director's Cut. This past year she has had the opportunity to produce Hofstra's Fall Open House and work with film students to produce a senior thesis film. Outside Hofstra, Jenna has worked for Alan Ginsberg Productions as a production and editing intern and is currently interning with Turner Broadcasting Systems at truTV. In the future, Jenna hopes to work in comedy either in late night talk shows, Saturday Night Live, or in sitcoms. She is honored to be working on the 14th Annual Friends of Max Kolb Telethon and is thrilled to end her Hofstra career with such a wonderful Hofstra Television tradition.

Hanna Knuuttunen

Premiums and Fundraising Manager

Hanna Knuuttunen is a senior at Hofstra University pursuing a BA in Television/Video Production with a minor in drama. Hanna has many leadership positions on campus such as a Senior Resident Assistant, Alpha Phi President and Sigma’Capella President. During her time at Hofstra, she has done behind the scenes work on the department musical, “Bat Boy,” as well as written one-act plays for the Experimental Works. Currently, Hanna is working in the international distribution department of Sesame Workshop and hopes to live in New York after graduation and work in children’s television or casting.

Celia Werner

Package Producer

Celia Werner is a Junior Video, Television, Film B.S. student. She is the Package Producer for the Max Kolb Telethon. Celia is very involved in the Herbert Lawrence School of Communication, she is the General Manager of Hofstra Entertainment Access Television Station, Series Coordinating Producer of For Your Island, Technical Assistant, and works for the Dean's Office taking event photos. Celia is the owner of Celia Werner Productions LLC, an event photography/videography company. She is also an aspiring YouTuber with a channel full of reviews, tutorials, and video blogs. Her dream job after college is to be a content creator for Buzzfeed Motion Pictures.

Joseph Pentz

Technical Assistant

Joseph Pentz is a Senior B.S. Television/Video major at Hofstra University. Joe is the Associate General Manager and Program Director of Hofstra Entertainment Access Television (HEAT Network), Director and Technical Director for Pride Productions, Engineer in Charge of Flypack New York, and Video Systems Integrator for Port Washington High School. Joe is also part of WRHU, Radio Hofstra University where for 2 years he was the Technical Engineer of the Marconi Award winning radio station. Joe completed Advanced Television Production II in the Spring of 2014 where he was the Technical Manager for The 13th Annual Max Kolb Telethon. Joe looks forward to working with the 14th Annual Max Kolb Telethon team, helping them to bring their production visions to fruition, and work alongside his classmates once again in his final semester in the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication.

Premiums are key to the success of the telethon. These items are collected from a large spectrum of local and national organizations and used as Thank You gifts– incentive and reward for those who pledge monetary donations online and during the live broadcast. All kinds of premiums are accepted and can take the form of tickets to events, specialized clothing, restaurant gift certificates, services, experiences, or any other type of gift certificates and consumers goods.